SHAUN Murphy admitted after a 5-1 Wuxi win over Rod Lawler that he was getting Brazil withdrawal symptoms fuelled by wall-to-wall TV coverage of the World Cup being staged in the country.

The world No7 has plenty of good memories of his trip to South America for the only professional tournament ever staged by the football-mad nation.

Murphy, now 31, beat Graeme Dott 5-0 in the final to lift the trophy and until earlier this year, when he claimed the Gdynia Open crown, that was the former world champion’s last title - though the success was swiftly followed by another victory in Haikou.

“I think Brazil will win the World Cup – is that what everyone thinks in the room?” said Murphy, adding: “I have been to Brazil and it was fantastic. I want to go back now.

“I won a title there and I wish we still had that snooker tournament on the tour, it was a great country and I really enjoyed being there.

“And snooker is very popular there, a lot of people play although that is not the first thing other people will associate with the country.”

THERE’S BEEN a fair bit of activity since the World Championship but television gave snooker the blood in its veins and so the first televised event of the season will mark the start of the new campaign for most.